Білий ікол

           Hecameoutofadozethatwashalfnightmare,toseethered-huedshe-wolfbeforehim. Shewasnotmorethanhalfadozenfeetawaysittinginthesnowandwistfullyregardinghim. Thetwodogswerewhimperingandsnarlingathisfeet,butshetooknonoticeofthem. Shewaslookingattheman,andforsometimehereturnedherlook. Therewasnothingthreateningabouther. Shelookedathimmerelywithagreatwistfulness,butheknewittobethewistfulnessofanequallygreathunger. Hewasthefood,andthesightofhimexcitedinherthegustatorysensations. Hermouthopened,thesalivadrooledforth,andshelickedherchopswiththepleasureofanticipation. 

           Aspasmoffearwentthroughhim. Hereachedhastilyforabrandtothrowather. Butevenashereached,andbeforehisfingershadclosedonthemissile,shesprangbackintosafety; andheknewthatshewasusedtohavingthingsthrownather. Shehadsnarledasshesprangaway,baringherwhitefangstotheirroots, allherwistfulnessvanishing,beingreplacedbyacarnivorousmalignitythatmadehimshudder. Heglancedatthehandthatheldthebrand,noticingthecunningdelicacyofthefingersthatgrippedit,howtheyadjustedthemselvestoalltheinequalitiesofthesurface, curlingoverandunderandabouttheroughwood,andonelittlefinger,tooclosetotheburningportionofthebrand, sensitivelyandautomaticallywrithingbackfromthehurtfulheattoacoolergripping-place;andinthesameinstantheseemedtoseeavisionofthosesamesensitiveanddelicatefingersbeingcrushedandtornbythewhiteteethoftheshe-wolf. Neverhadhebeensofondofthisbodyofhisasnowwhenhistenureofitwassoprecarious. 

           Allnight,withburningbrands,hefoughtoffthehungrypack. Whenhedozeddespitehimself,thewhimperingandsnarlingofthedogsarousedhim.